Kazakhstan

Nomadic Routes From Caspian to Altai

A country larger than Western Europe, Kazakhstan could fit all of the other former Central Asian Soviet member states within its borders with space to spare. Encompassed within this vast expanse is the Great Steppe, across which Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes galloped; to the south are the heights of the Tien Shan, through whose foothills Silk Road travelers journeyed; in the northeast the exquisite lakes and valleys of the Altai mountains lie waiting for adventurous souls to discover, and in the far west the Caspian Sea offers a Riviera setting for one of the world's most landlocked nations. With independence and the discovery of oil has come huge change, yet Kazakhstan remained one of the least-known of Asian countries until the Borat movie took the world by storm in 2006. Now this land of rich history, welcoming people and whirling bazaars is intent on sharing its wonders with a curious world.

Reviews

“...for the independent, do-it-yourself traveller seeking to reach some of the most out of the way and least visited corners of Central Asia, this is the book. There is no other in the English language....” - The Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Remarks

+ First dedicated English language guide to Kazakhstan - a huge and diverse country

+ The "Borat" phenomenon and its double-edged effect

+ Baikonur, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and the Silk Road

+ The future of Kazakhstan's energy resources

+ Investment potential for businessmen

+ Architecture from Astana to Almaty to Aktau

+ Holidays by the Caspian Sea

+ Superb photography from the grandeur of the Tien Shan and Altai mountains across the Great Steppe to the Caspian Sea